"The Most Mysterious Geological Formations on the Planet", MOERAKI STONE SPHERES

 The Moeraki spheres date back 60 million years. For the Maori, they are sacred.

In the south of New Zealand, on the beach of Koekohe, there are large stone spheres that arouse intrigue among visitors due to their origin and perfection.

Known as “Moeraki spheres”, these stones, which measure up to three meters in diameter, date back 60 million years, and are the result of erosion and concretion processes over time.

How were they formed? They are believed to have been created by hardening mudstone from the Paleocene period and then progressively buried in the cliffs surrounding the beach. They have recently come to light due to the erosion of these cliffs.

Due to the characteristics of their conformation, these rocks are more resistant to the effects of erosion and therefore their shape is preserved over time. In addition, some have strange cracks, known as "septaries". These openings were filled with small amounts of dolomite and quartz, as well as brown and yellow calcite, giving the spheres their distinctive appearance.

You can visit this strange New Zealand landscape on Koekohe Beach, between the cities of Moeraki and Hampden. It is accessed via State Highway 1.